Technologies

Dear Apple, Please Steal These Galaxy S25 Edge Features for a Thin iPhone

Commentary: If the rumored iPhone 17 Air comes to fruition, I hope it borrows these five great components from Samsung’s skinny phone.

Tech companies are known for, shall we say, «borrowing» features from each other. Any time Apple or Samsung releases a new phone or software update, you can be sure arguments over who did it first, or better, will ensue among hardcore fans.

It stands to reason that as Apple reportedly plans to debut a thinner version of the iPhone 17 this fall, it might look to competitors to see what resonates with consumers. If so, a few features on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge are on my wishlist for the rumored iPhone 17 Air. Reports suggest the skinnier iPhone could ultimately replace the iPhone Plus, and would have a similar $900 price tag. But whether or not tariffs will affect that price isn’t clear.

Samsung’s super-thin S25 Edge clocks in at 5.8mm and 163 grams. It costs $1,100 and is available for purchase now. It’s also one of my favorite phones I’ve ever used, thanks to the fresh form factor. In fact, despite my initial skepticism, I’m now convinced thin and light phones are the way to go. You can check out my review for a more in-depth breakdown of my experience using the phone.

For now, though, I want to share five Galaxy S25 Edge features I’d love to see on the iPhone 17 Air. Apple may not have confirmed the existence of this slim device just yet, but that can’t stop a girl from dreaming.

A titanium frame

Despite the Galaxy S25 Edge’s spacious 6.7-inch display, it still feels impressively feather-light. In spite of its thinness, it’s also surprisingly sturdy, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to snap in my hand or pocket.

That lightweight durability is thanks to the phone’s titanium frame, which is something I hope Apple adopts for its thin iPhone, too. Apple uses titanium frames in its Pro model phones, so it’d be great to see that same treatment applied to a thin iPhone. Since I’m sure it’ll also have a premium price, it will definitely need extra reinforcement to keep it from bending.

Rumors have gone back and forth on whether Apple’s upcoming iPhones will have aluminum or titanium frames. However, analyst Jeff Pu said in February that the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will all have aluminum frames, and that the iPhone 17 Air could be the outlier with a titanium frame. I really hope that’s true.

A 120Hz refresh rate

Samsung’s S25 Edge has a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling. Honestly, with that $1,100 price, I’d be pretty annoyed if it didn’t. If the iPhone Air is going to be marketed as a premium device, then it also needs to have a premium display. Simple as that.

Asking for a 120Hz refresh rate in 2025 doesn’t sound like an extravagant request — until you remember that Apple’s baseline 16 and 16 Plus iPhones only have a 60Hz refresh rate, which is truly mind boggling. Hopefully, Apple remedies that with the entire iPhone 17 lineup, and especially with the iPhone 17 Air.

More than one camera, please

Number three on my wish list is the iPhone 17 Air’s cameras — and notice I said «cameras» with an «S,» because I don’t want just one.

One of the compromises with thinner phones is that the camera hardware can get scaled back. The Galaxy S25 Edge has two rear cameras, which is less than the rest of the S25 lineup. But Samsung has, impressively, carried over the 200-megapixel main camera that you’ll also find on the S25 Ultra, and pairs it with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. This makes for some pretty great shots — images are sharp, colors are balanced and portraits really pop.

Some rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air could follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 16E and have just one rear lens. But that would be a huge bummer, since the 16E is technically a «budget» phone — even if that $600 price tag suggests otherwise.

Although the iPhone 16E has a 48-megapixel camera with 2x magnification, I’d still feel cheated if that’s all I got with a more premium device like the iPhone 17 Air. If I’m going to spend around $1,000 on a phone, I want the cameras to live up to the price tag.

Beat Samsung on battery life

Another feature you’ll have to compromise with when opting for a slim phone is battery life. Less room means a smaller battery, which means shorter battery life. The S25 Edge has a 3,900 mAh battery, which is the smallest capacity across the S25 series. It’s lasted me all day, even with my excessive screen time, but not much more than that.

I challenge Apple to break past that limitation and give us a skinny phone that doesn’t skimp on battery. It could be a great way to set the iPhone 17 Air apart from competitors — and in turn can push those competitors to improve their offerings, too.

Generous storage and RAM

I was pleasantly surprised that the Galaxy S25 Edge packs 12GB of RAM, with 256GB and 512GB storage options. Since expandable storage is such a rarity — and is practically out of the question with a thin phone — it’s great to not worry too much about filling up your phone’s memory with photos, videos and games. All of that RAM helps to power the S25 Edge’s many AI features it shares with the rest of the S25 lineup.

The entire iPhone 16 lineup has 8GB of RAM, which seems to be working just fine, even when powering Apple Intelligence features. So maybe asking for 12GB of RAM on the iPhone 17 Air is unnecessary. But what I really hope is that a skinny iPhone won’t scale back on memory, and will also include a 512GB storage option. That way, you can really enjoy having a thin phone, without curtailing your use of it.

We’ll see what Apple’s got up its sleeve, and whether it really will launch a cutting-edge competitor to Samsung’s S25 Edge.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Nov. 5

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 5.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Some of the clues are tricky, but we have all the answers, so read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Fresh addition to a pasta sauce, perhaps
Answer: BASIL

6A clue: Log ___ (water park ride)
Answer: FLUME

7A clue: Group of ships
Answer: FLEET

8A clue: Some drinks from «streams»
Answer: SODAS

9A clue: Documentarian Burns
Answer: KEN

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Closest pals, for short
Answer: BFFS

2D clue: «No problems here!»
Answer: ALLOK

3D clue: Shoe material in an Elvis hit
Answer: SUEDE

4D clue: «That is to say …»
Answer: IMEAN

5D clue: Tennis do-overs
Answer: LETS

Technologies

Apple Reportedly Planning Cheaper Macs to Compete With Budget Chromebooks, PCs

Apple doesn’t market its machines as affordable, but that could be changing.

Apple may release more affordable Mac laptops to compete with Chromebooks and budget-friendly Windows laptops as early as 2026.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports the company has plans to roll out a machine for «well under $1,000.» According to Gurman, the new laptop is already in early production under the codename J700. This matches earlier rumors that a low-cost MacBook Air was in the pipeline at around $599, which would allow Apple to directly compete with other cheap laptops, including Chromebooks and Windows PCs.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

According to the report, costs will be kept down by using a lower-end LCD that’s smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, potentially making the new affordable MacBook as small as 12 inches.

Another way Apple could reduce the cost is by using an A-series iPhone chip, which falls short of the top-tier performance offered by the MacBook Pro or the current M4 Air. The upcoming chip may be a variant of the A19 Pro chip that debuted with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air, which Apple says is capable of MacBook-level performance.

As CNET senior editor Matt Elliott noted, the promise is a bold one. He speculates that the rumored $599 MacBook Air may get the same smartphone processor, or an M-series chip based on that architecture.

Bloomberg also reports that a MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro and M5 Max chip is in development, and Apple has completed work on a MacBook Air powered by the M5 chip, which is planned for release early next year.

The affordable laptop would be designed for casual users, students and businesses, specifically individuals who need a device for tasks such as web browsing, light media editing and document creation. The tech giant is also targeting the education market, as well as iPad buyers who may also want a traditional laptop.

«If this is strictly a move to entice consumers with a high-quality, lower-cost MacBook running MacOS in place of an iPad with a keyboard, then yes, Apple can likely take a chunk of that market,» said Josh Goldman, managing editor at CNET.

«Making inroads into the education market at this point, where Chromebooks have taken over since the pandemic, will prove challenging, though I’m sure it’s nothing that throwing billions of dollars at can’t fix,» CNET’s Goldman said.

This price range is ‘a big departure’

Price is likely to be key here. A $599 price tag would place the new Mac in the same range as more affordable Chromebooks and entry-level laptops, representing a significant change from Apple’s previous strategy.

«Apple potentially dipping into the Chromebook range of $300 to $500 with a new MacBook is a big departure,» said Goldman.

He notes that one of Apple’s most affordable MacBooks is the M4 MacBook Air, available new starting at $999 for the 13-inch model. Walmart still sells a new M1 MacBook Air, a 5-year-old laptop, for around $600.

By contrast, an iPad 11th Gen with a Magic Keyboard will run you around $600, making it clear that Apple’s target market for the rumored device is students and lighter users.

Apple typically hasn’t targeted the lower-priced segment of the market with its MacBooks. However, with consumer wallets under pressure from inflation, high tariffs and layoffs, an affordable MacBook could be imperative and timely.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Nov. 5, #408

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Nov. 5, No. 408.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is pretty diverse. The blue answers stuck out to me right away, because some of them are super famous and the others felt like they belonged with those names. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: How to see a game.

Green group hint: Soccer.

Blue group hint: Giddy up!

Purple group hint: Not a run play.